She looked meaningly at the bed.
He wakened at once, sensuously alert. He lifted himself upon one elbow: a hot torrent of blood swarmed through his cheeks.
His pulses beat thickly.
“We’re all alone up here,” said Louise smiling.
“We’ve got the whole floor to ourselves.”
“Why don’t you lie down and take a nap, if you’re still sleepy?” he asked.
“I’ll wake you up,” he added, with gentle chivalry.
“I’ve got such a little room.
It’s hot and stuffy.
That’s why I got up,” said Louise.
“What a nice big room you’ve got!”
“Yes,” he said.
“It’s a nice big bed, too.”
They were silent a waiting moment.
“Why don’t you lie down here, Louise?” he said, in a low unsteady voice.
“I’ll get up,” he added hastily, sitting up.
“I’ll wake you.”
“Oh, no,” she said,
“I wouldn’t feel right.”
They were again silent.
She looked admiringly at his thin young arms.
“My!” she said.
“I bet you’re strong.”
He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully, and expanded his chest.
“My!” she said.
“How old are you, ‘Gene?”
He was just at his fifteenth year.
“I’m going on sixteen,” he said.
“How old are you, Louise?”
“I’m eighteen,” she said.
“I bet you’re a regular heart-breaker, ‘Gene.
How many girls have you got?”
“Oh — I don’t know.
Not many,” he said truthfully enough.
He wanted to talk — he wanted to talk madly, seductively, wickedly.
He would excite her by uttering, in grave respectful tones, honestly, matter-of-factly, the most erotic suggestions.
“I guess you like the tall ones, don’t you?” said Louise.
“A tall fellow wouldn’t want a little thing like me, would he?
Although,” she said quickly, “you never know.
They say opposites attract each other.”
“I don’t like tall girls,” said Eugene.
“They’re too skinny.
I like them about your size, when they’ve got a good build.”
“Have I got a good build, ‘Gene?” said Louise, holding her arms up and smiling.
“Yes, you have a pretty build, Louise — a fine build,” said Eugene earnestly.
“The kind I like.”
“I haven’t got a pretty face.
I’ve got an ugly face,” she said invitingly.
“You haven’t got an ugly face.
You have a pretty face,” said Eugene firmly.